Click on the image to download this flyer as a PDF.
Eagle Ridge New Tech Students Build Shed For Copperfield Fire Victims
Eagle Ridge New Tech High School students work on a four-week project to make a shed, part of Team Oregon Build’s program which will give the shed to Copperfield Fire Victims.
By Joaquin Aguilar-Flores, KFCS
Eagle Ridge New Tech High School students finished an 8-by-16-foot shed built for helping a Sprague River family who lost their home in the Copperfield Fire.
Eagle Ridge New Tech’s shed is one of five sheds built in the Klamath Basin through Team Oregon Build. Mazama, Lost River, Henley, Bonanza and Chiloquin also have built or are in the process of building sheds.
Eagle Ridge New Tech instructor David Parker was presented with the task for his students which took the group four weeks to complete.
For Parker and some of his students, the tragic fire was all too real.
“It missed my house by less than an eighth of a mile and that was scary,” Parker said.
The same day Parker started his first day teaching at Eagle Ridge New Tech this school year, he was told to evacuate his home.
“I was frazzled, ripping my hair out. It was better being here, teaching teenagers than being at my friend’s hoping my house wasn’t burning down,” Parker said. “The first thing I get to do is literally for my neighbors. How’d that land in my lap.”
The project became even more heartfelt and clear for Parker, who went through a house fire years ago and lost everything.
“I lost everything but my tools because they were not in the house. They were 1950’s cedar lawn cabins I lived in so they went up so fast in that fire,” Parker said.
The storage shed Parker and his class built will go toward a family who lost three barns and have no place to put their belongings as they attempt to rebuild.
Team Oregon Build provided materials to Eagle Ridge New Tech and picked up the shed Thursday.
Team Oregon Build, which started in 2023, partners with the Bureau of Labor and Industries, the Oregon Housing Authority, Oregon Department of Education and PIVOT Architecture to provide funding for high school CTE programs. Team Oregon Build also helps with any natural disaster, helps the homeless and helps making sheds into a small home.
Parker and his class were asked by Team Oregon Build to build a duplicate shed, which Parker and Eagle Ridge New Tech Principal, Terry Bennett, agreed to without hesitation. The second shed will aim to take 15 days to finish.
Parker has 30 years worth of construction and carpentry experience, previously owning his own business and was a head project manager for Modoc Contracting.
Only two students in Parker’s class had previous experience in construction.
“My aunt and her friends lost their home through the fire and I’m just glad this will be going to someone who lost their home in the fire,” Eagle Ridge New Tech junior Rose Purkhiser said. “This was my first time in construction and I am hoping to work in the carpentry field itself.”
“The students were getting used to the shock and the feel, noise of the nail gun. The first time, one of them jumped and dropped the nail gun. The roof, they hand built every truss. Some get trusses from a company but they built every one of the triangles on the roof,” Parker said.
“They kind of knew what a hammer was; it was a crash course. Some of them are 15. I had to show them ways of using a nail gun without having the strength to use it. We are just thankful to Team Oregon Build and everyone who has helped us with the resources to finish this shed.”
Eagle Ridge New Tech instructor David Parker, right, helping his students make a shed for a Team Oregon Build project for Copperfield Fire Victims at Eagle Ridge New Tech High School.
Workforce Ready Grants Expand Career Pathways in Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology
HECC has announced preliminary awards totaling approximately $42 million to support 62 projects that prioritize underserved and marginalized communities
Salem, OR – The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) is pleased to announce the latest round of Future Ready Oregon Workforce Ready Grant awards to support 62 innovative workforce and talent development projects. A combined total of approximately $42 million has been preliminarily awarded, making this the largest round of Future Ready Oregon grant funding to date. These sector-focused Workforce Ready Grants in Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology support collaborative programs that center the needs of Oregon’s underserved communities* and connect individuals to resources for pursuing good-paying jobs and meaningful careers in key sectors of Oregon’s economy.
Grantees include community-based organizations, community colleges, public and private universities, local workforce development boards, school districts, and other education and workforce service providers from all parts of the state. Projects advance innovative approaches to education and training, with clearly defined partnerships, career-connected learning pathways, culturally relevant services, and wraparound supports for participants.
HECC Executive Director Ben Cannon says, “With this third round of Workforce Ready Grants, we are expanding the collaborative partnerships that are essential to engaging a diverse workforce and equipping Oregonians for high-demand careers. Congratulations to all grantees and thank you in advance for your innovative work to serve Oregonians.”
The HECC received 184 applications—seeking a combined total of more than $185 million—in response to the competitive, sector-focused Requests for Applications. The agency engaged partners in a rigorous review and decision-making process that centered equity, innovation, and partnerships. The funding priorities for these sector-specific Workforce Ready Grants were informed by HECC’s statewide Industry Consortia. This is the third and final round of Workforce Ready Grant funding available through the Oregon Legislature’s 2022 investment known as Future Ready Oregon (Senate Bill 1545). The list of preliminary awards is included at the end of this announcement, and descriptions of all the projects that have been recommended for funding can be found here.
Healthcare Workforce Ready Grants
Sixteen projects totaling approximately $10.8 million will advance healthcare career pathways, connecting participants with regionally identified high-demand occupations in fields such as community health, behavioral health, surgical tech, phlebotomy, and dentistry. For example, Klamath Union High School is creating a new Health Occupations Program to provide students access to high-wage, high-demand health occupations, expanding employer and education partnerships. Another grantee, Western Oregon University, is recruiting Spanish-speaking bilingual (and multilingual) students interested in behavioral health careers, and providing them with tuition, wraparound supports, cultural competency training, and opportunities to earn wages while they complete their education (otherwise known as earn-and-learn opportunities).
Ten projects totaling approximately $8.5 million will advance nursing career pathways in all parts of the state, including a variety of credential pathways. For example, the Bushnell University School of Nursing is collaborating with a medical provider and local workforce development board to launch a collaborative program to prepare bachelor’s degree-level nurses to work in rural Lane County hospitals. Another grantee, RISE Partnership, is expanding education and training programs into a nursing career pathway for Oregon’s homecare workers. The program includes free training, wraparound supports, career coaching, and job placement services.
Manufacturing Workforce Ready Grants
Nineteen projects were awarded a combined total of approximately $12.6 million to expand outreach and career exploration initiatives and earn-and-learn training opportunities. These projects will train participants in a range of skills that will be transferable across Oregon’s diverse manufacturing sector, from the food-and-beverage industry to forestry and welding. For example, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council is expanding its Re-Entry employment program, connecting adults in custody and formerly justice-involved individuals to local manufacturing opportunities including a leading HVAC manufacturer. Another grantee, Clackamas Community College, is partnering with 20 organizations to expand access to training and careers in manufacturing, including earn-and-learn experiences in the areas of renewable energy infrastructure, industrial maintenance, and welding.
Technology Workforce Ready Grants
Seventeen projects were awarded a combined total of approximately $10.1 million for education and training focused on transferrable technology skills, high-tech career exploration, and programs providing upskilling and retraining for adult learners, dislocated or incumbent workers. Projects will prepare participants for jobs in a variety of high-tech occupations. For example, the Afghan Support Network is preparing Afghan refugees in Oregon to earn in-demand IT certifications by providing them with culturally responsive training, career coaching, vocational English classes, and wraparound services and supports that will remove barriers to success and position them for future employment. Another grantee, Eastern Oregon University’s Greater Oregon STEM Hub, will expand its workforce development education program across Eastern Oregon by hiring a Technology Workforce Exploration Educator to empower local educators to craft technology-focused curriculum through an innovative train-the-trainer model.
Sector-focused Workforce Ready Grants in Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology
Healthcare
Healthcare Career Pathways
Grant Recipient:
Proposed Award Amount:
Adelante Mujeres
$548,113
AntFarm
$500,000
Cascadia Health, Inc.
$453,046
Familias en Acción
$500,000
HIV Alliance
$500,000
Klamath Union High School
$440,843
La Clinica del Valle Family Health Care Center, Inc.
$839,879
Lane Education Service District
$1,000,000
Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy
$500,000
Northeast Oregon Network
$351,512
Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. and Rosemary Anderson High School
$500,000
Portland State University
$1,229,321
Project Youth+
$500,000
The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization
$500,000
Western Oregon University
$2,000,000
Willamette Education Service District
$499,332
Nursing Career Pathways
Grant Recipient:
Proposed Award Amount:
Blue Mountain Community College
$788,015
Bushnell University
$1,000,000
Chemeketa Community College
$1,000,000
Columbia Health Services
$440,733
Oregon Health & Science University
$732,620
Portland Community College
$842,773
Providence Health & Services - Oregon
$621,992
RISE Partnership
$2,000,000
Rogue Community College
$435,410
Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center
$710,318
Manufacturing
Grant Recipient:
Proposed Award Amount:
Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council
$301,759
Centro Cultural del Condado de Washington
$500,823
Chemeketa Community College
$1,000,000
City of Hillsboro
$500,000
Clackamas Community College
$1,000,000
Clackamas Workforce Partnership
$632,125
Consejo Hispano
$500,000
Golden Rule ReEntry
$683,794
iUrban Teen
$847,208
Klamath County School District (Mazama High School)
$302,793
Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
$500,000
Northwest Oregon Works
$1,000,000
Oregon State University (Mechanized Harvesting Laboratory)
$383,730
Oregon State University (Veterans Semiconductor Upskilling)
$1,000,000
Sheridan School District 48J
$500,000
Umpqua Community College
$500,000
Unidos Bridging Community
$959,691
West Linn-Wilsonville School District 3Jt
$500,000
Worksystems, Inc.
$1,000,000
Technology
Grant Recipient:
Proposed Award Amount:
Afghan Support Network
$623,902
Apprenti
$400,000
Chemeketa Community College
$297,443
Eastern Oregon University (Acquisition of Computer and Technical Skills)
$1,142,977
Eastern Oregon University (Greater Oregon STEM Hub)
$444,999
Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network
$666,880
Oregon Institute of Technology (UX Writing, Design, and Research)
$500,000
Oregon Institute of Technology (Applied Computing)
$709,546
Oregon State University (College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences)
$1,000,000
Oregon State University (OSU Professional and Continuing Education)
A career and college fair was put together today at Pel Court by Career and College Readiness Coordinator at Klamath Union, Karla Andrade, inviting countless businesses and organizations in the community to inform students about their possibilities after high school.
Seniors participated in a scavenger hunt to help inform them about each organization. Thank you to everyone who came to KU for this event!
Thanksgiving meals served to KFCS students
Thanksgiving came early for students at KFCS as part of a thanksgiving meal served during lunches today. At Klamath Union, accompanied by Walker Quality Services Chef, Ryan Bedell, students chose from the selection of roast turkey, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, green beans, glazed sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, a dinner roll and a pumpkin spice bar.
KU cook, Ashley Caro, helped serve students alongside Bedell. Thank you to head cook at Klamath Union, Sam Herr, and her staff for all their hard work in serving our students!
KECDC November Family Thanksgiving Event
Klamath Early Childhood Development Center held its November family Thanksgiving event this afternoon. Families were treated to a Thanksgiving meal and were served by KECDC staff, which brought them their plate of food to their designated table.
ThanKU Shirts
Wendy Glidden, KFCS Behavior Specialist
"I am nominating Wendy Glidden for the ThanKU award in recognition of her exceptional support for our staff and students in the area of behavioral support. Wendy has been instrumental in implementing the PASS program and continues to provide ongoing guidance to ensure its success. Her dedication has made a tremendous positive impact on our school community."
Perry Rasdal, KECDC Head Custodian
"Perry truly goes above and beyond every day, consistently surpassing my expectations with his remarkable dedication. His attention to detail is nothing short of impressive; whether he’s ensuring the floors sparkle, maintaining the grounds, or tackling another project thrown his way, every corner of our school reflects his hard work. Beyond his tireless efforts, Perry’s humor brightens our days, making the school environment feel more lively. It’s clear that he takes immense pride in his work, and thanks to him, our school looks amazing. Perry is truly a wonderful asset to KECDC, and we are so lucky to have him here."
Early Literacy Literacy Success in Oregon
Stand Oregon is a non-profit in Oregon that supports improvements in early literacy for Oregon students. They were instrumental in getting the Early Literacy grant passed in the state of Oregon. KFCS is using that grant money to hire full-time instructional coaches at our elementary schools to help our teachers become stronger literacy teachers.
Stand Oregon has started the Oregon Demonstration Network, which is a small selection of promising elementary schools that are getting additional support from Stand Oregon with the intention of those schools becoming model schools for other schools in the state to visit and learn from. KFCS has two schools that are part of the Oregon Demonstration Network: Mills and Conger elementary schools.
Mills is highlighted in a promotional video Stand Oregon has produced. Click on the video below:
ThoughtExchange Results
Dear KFCS Families,
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your valuable feedback on how KFCS can improve parent-teacher conferences and enhance parent involvement in our schools. Your insights are incredibly important to us, and we are committed to using this information to rethink and improve our approach to family engagement and parent-teacher conferences.
Here are some key takeaways from your responses:
Many of you emphasized the need for better communication and more frequent updates.
Privacy and a quieter environment for conferences were highlighted as important factors.
Flexible scheduling and the ability to meet with individual teachers were common suggestions.
There was a strong desire for more detailed feedback on student performance and progress.
We appreciate your participation and thoughtful input. Your feedback will play a crucial role in re-thinking parent involvement and shaping the future of our parent-teacher conferences.
Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
Warm regards,
Fred Bartels Director of School Improvement Klamath Falls City Schools
Find results here from our two recent ThoughtExchanges.
How should KFCS change parent-teacher conferences and improve parent involvement in our schools?
What are some important perspectives to consider as we plan to replace Ponderosa Middle School in the years to come?
KU Girls XC Nab Second-Place State Finish
Click on the image above to read the KU cross country article
Community Awareness Information From Superintendent Brown concerning Ponderosa Middle School
As we look towards the future of our community, I want to bring to your attention a critical need that we must address to ensure the success and readiness of our students: the replacement of Ponderosa Middle School.
Klamath Falls is on the cusp of growth, and we need to be prepared to meet the educational demands of our expanding population. Last year, during our community conversations, we received a clear message: our community wants our youth to be life and career-ready. Specifically, there is a strong desire for more hands-on, applied learning opportunities, such as Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
Effective career-ready programs must begin with robust middle school initiatives. During the Board’s visit to California last year, we saw firsthand the exceptional programs at Mad Tech Middle, which serve as an inspiring model for what we can achieve here. These programs are essential for setting our students on a successful path through high school and beyond.
Our district is diligently working to build these programs at the high school level and forge strong connections to postgraduate destinations like the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) and Klamath Community College (KCC). However, to truly accelerate our students along this track, we need a middle school that supports and enhances these efforts. Unfortunately, the current Ponderosa Middle School is outdated and does not meet the needs of our evolving educational goals.
The urgency of this need cannot be overstated. While the current middle school building is safe, our engineers have indicated that it could become unusable at any time because it is located on an active fault line. Our trusted advisors and the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee have unanimously agreed that the time to act is now.
We estimate the budget for replacing Ponderosa Middle School to be around $120 million. This number may fluctuate slightly up or down as we consider incorporating other essential items, such as security upgrades and early learning facility support, into the overall bond. We may also determine that we can build at a lower cost depending on what year we decide to call a bond election to support the possible project in the future.
Replacing Ponderosa Middle School is not just about updating a building; it is about investing in the future of our community and ensuring that our youth have the tools and opportunities they need to succeed in life and their careers.
We appreciate your continued support and engagement as we take these crucial steps forward. Together, we can create an educational environment that prepares our students for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.
Over the next year, we will engage more with our stakeholders about Ponderosa. We will also schedule tours of the building for the community to see the current facility.
We do want to be very clear that we have not set any date for a potential Bond election. We just want to make sure our community is aware that we are working on a solution to replace Ponderosa on a different site that does not have an active fault line on it.
For anyone who has any questions about his message please e-mail Keith A. Brown atbrownk@kfalls.k12.or.us.
What a wonderful week for KU’s Intro to Health Occupations class!
On Tuesday, students got to visit the Sky Lakes Wellness Center downtown and learned about how to practice mindfulness, learned to cook some healthy treats and learned about the importance of keeping hemselves healthy.
Yesterday students had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Stewart Decker and talk about his career, how he got into the field and to connect with students.
And today students got to visit Klamath Community College (KCC) and check out their medical and science programs to get a hands on look at what a potential career can be like. Way to go Pels!
Cold And Flu season is here.. Please help us prevent the spread of viruses by doing these things at home, school, and work.
Steps you can take
Individuals can
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.
La temporada de gripe y resfriados ya está aquí. Ayúdenos a prevenir la propagación del virus haciendo estas cosas en casa, en la escuela y en el trabajo.
Las personas pueden:
Cubrirse la boca y la nariz con un pañuelo desechable al toser o estornudar; botar los pañuelos desechables usados a la basura; y si no tienen un pañuelo de este tipo, toser o estornudar cubriéndose con el ángulo interno del codo, no con las manos.
